Golf tee



C. W. SMITH Nov. 14, 1950 GOLF TEE Fi led Aug. 12, 1949 ln'mnlor C'HARL/E M4 SMITH Attorney Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to golf tees and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a golf tee which is formed of a single piece of paper or the like and which is provided with a wire reinforcement. The device is so folded as to present a ball-holding member, a relatively long flat leg and a relatively short flat leg. By means of the embedded wire the legs may be quickly and easily positioned to meet varying conditions of terrain and the ball supporting member may be bent to a vertical position regardless of the position of the two leg members. Novel means is provided for supporting the ball upon the ball holding member.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a deviceof the character set forth which is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means, in a device of the character set forth, for positioning and maintaining in position a pair of legs forming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for supporting a ball upon a support member forming a part of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth which will be safe to carry.

Another ob ect of the invention is the provision of a golf tee which will support a golf ball without the necessity of becoming embedded in the ground as is the conventional tee.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character set forth which may easily be found after being accidentally struck when driving at a golf ball which may be mounted thereon.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof shown in a position where a golf ball is supported at medium height from the ground,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one form of construction,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the device supporting a ball at a relatively lower position with regard to the ground,

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 but shoW- ing the device as used when it is desired to have the ball at a very lowered position with regard to the ground,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2, 6 and 7 but showing the device as used when it is desired to elevate the golf ball at a maximum distance from the ground,

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the device illustrating another form of construction, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a wire reinforcement device as utilized in the construction shown in Figure 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein a body ll] of cardboard or the like, the free ends of which are brought together and folded inwardly, as indicated at H, to form a ball support [2. A portion of the body I0 is folded upon itself, as indicated at [3, to

form a relatively short leg [4 and another portion is folded upon itself, as indicated at l5, to form a relatively long leg I6.

The elements forming the support [2 are fastened together by means of staples H. which are driven therethrough adjacent the side edges thereof and to form a more secure support for a golf ball l8, and the upper edges of the support l2 may be pulled apart to form supporting lips as indicated at [9 in, for example, Figure 4 of the drawing.

A reinforcing and holding member 20, preferably formed of bendable wire, is centrally disposed between the folds of the legs I4 and l 6 and, in the form of the invention shown in Figure 5,

for example, this member does not extend into the support I 2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 the construction above referred to is identical with the exception that instead of the member 20 a wire 2! has its free ends 22 mounted within the folds of the members H and has looped portions 23 and 24 mounted within the folds of the legs 14 and l 6, respectively.

In operation, it will be apparent that due to the bendable members 20 and 2| the support member l2 and the legs [4 and 16 in either form of the invention may be bent to assume an infinite variety of relative positions so that the ball l8 may be supported at a relatively lower position with regard to the ground, as shown in Figure 7, a relatively high position with regard to the ground as disclosed in Figure 8, a medium position with regard to the ground as disclosed in Figure 4 or may support a ball upon an inclined surface as clearly shown in Figure 6.

It will be understood that the outer surface of the device may be imprinted with advertising matter or other data and that the outer side of the device may be brilliantly colored so that the same may be located easily in the event that it is struck during a drive.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a body formed of flexible material folded to form a ball-supporting member and a pair of legs and a bracing member of bendable material embedded in the folds of the leg members.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body formed of a single piece of flexible material folded to form a ball-supporting member and a pair of legs and a bracing member of bendable material embedded in the folds of the leg members.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body formed of a single piece of flexible material folded to form a pair of legs and a ballsupporting member and a bracing member formed of a single piece of bendable material and extending between the folds of the supporting member and each of the legs.

4. A device of the character described comprising a body formed of a single piece of flexible material folded to form a relatively long leg, a relatively short leg and a ball supporting member and a bracing member formed of a single piece of bendable material and extending between the folds of the supporting member and each of the legs.

5. A device of the character described comprising a body of flexible material folded to form a ball-supporting member, a relatively long leg and a relatively short leg and a bracing member of bendable material embedded in the folds of the leg members.

6. A device of the character described comprising a body formed of a single piece of flexible material folded to form a relatively long leg, a relatively short leg and a ball-supporting member, a bracing member formed of a single piece of bendable material and extending between the folds of the supporting member and each of the legs and a pair of outwardly extending lips formed in the upper end of the supporting member.

CHARLIE WILLIAM SIWLTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,554,321 Banigan Sept. 22, 1925 1,661,513 Swett Mar. 6, 1928 1,781,757 Holden Nov. 18, 1930 2,160,122 Bundy May 30, 1939 2,495,679 Abrecht et a1 Jan. 31, 1950 

